A mum and her disabled son hit by theBedroom Tax could be owed hundreds of pounds due to a government mistake

A mum and her disabled son hit by the Bedroom Tax could be owed hundreds of pounds due to a government error - but they may still be parted.

Elizabeth Barry, 44, and her son Ryan, 20, may have been wrongly charged at least £640 since the government brought in the controversial change last year.

They are among up to 40,000 people around the country who may benefit from a loophole - which government experts did not notice until now - exempting people who have lived in their council properties for more than 17 years from paying the tax.

We reported last year how Elizabeth, of Vale Street, Clayton, feared she might have to put profoundly-disabled son into care because of the £82-per-month bedroom tax, which cuts housing benefit for those deemed to have 'spare' bedrooms.

Charities and others helped out Elizabeth, who is Ryan's full-time carer, with donations after the MEN reported her plight.

But news of the loophole could come to late for Elizabeth, who says that the stress of the past year has already made her decide to put Ryan into care.

Elizabeth, who was forced to live off toast after the tax was introduced, said: "This is good news but I can't believe the stress they have put people through. I won't believe this news until I see it in writing and the stress means I'll still probably put Ryan in care."

Councils and housing associations are now scrambling to work out how many tenants are affected by the loophole, which the government has already said it will close.

Although no official figures have been released, a source said that up to 500 people in Salford could be affected.

The Department for Work and Pensions have put the figure nationally at 5,000 but other experts put the figure at 40,000.

Elizabeth's MP, Lucy Powell, said: "Obviously this is good news for Elizabeth and Ryan if they are exempt but it will be typical of the way this government has imposed the unfair bedroom tax on the poorest families if they move to close the loophole very quickly."

A DWP spokesman said: "We are looking at this issue carefully and working with local authorities, and we will take any necessary action in due course. We expect very few people to be affected."

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